声称 (shēng chēng) — to claim, to assert

Definition

声称 means 'to claim/assert,' often implying the speaker's truth is unverified. It is more neutral than 宣称 (more assertive/public) and less official than 宣布.

verb
to claimto assert

Examples

  • 声称
    Tā shēng chēng zì jǐ yǐ jīng wán chéng le suǒ yǒu rèn wu.
    He claimed that he had completed all the tasks.
  • 声称
    Zhè jiā gōng sī shēng chēng tā men de chǎn pǐn shì huán bǎo de.
    This company claims that their products are environmentally friendly.
  • Méi yǒu rén shēng chēng duì zhè cì shì gù fù zé.
    No one claimed responsibility for the accident.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

“声” and “称” both mean to state or call; together they mean to claim or assert.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 聲; 声 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
ěrear
Sound part声符shēngfú
qìngshēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 聲 pairs 耳 (ear) with 殸 as a sound part; the simplified 声 is a shorthand and does not show those original parts.

Open 声 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 稱; 称 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
rice
Sound part声符shēngfú
chēngchēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 稱 pairs 禾 (rice) with 爯, a part giving the sound; it is explained as measuring rice. The simplified 称 is a later shorthand.

Open 称 →

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